by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports

HOUSTON - Jadeveon Clowney never expected he would have his first surgery as a pro before he registered his first NFL sack.

But a week after undergoing a sports hernia operation, the Houston Texans rookie linebacker is dealing with the reality of the setback.

Clowney, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, has rejoined the team and started rehabilitation. The team hopes he'll be ready for the start of training camp next month.

His reaction upon learning that he needed surgery?

"I was kind of upset, because I would get behind," Clowney told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday, as the Texans completed a three-day minicamp that he watched from the sideline. "But Coach (Bill O'Brien) was like, 'Just let it get better now than later on, when you might be out during the season.' So we'll just take the time to get it right now."

Clowney echoed O'Brien's contention the surgery corrected a lingering condition rather than an acute injury.

In any event, Clowney will spend the bulk of his time until the opening of camp in Houston, rehabbing and further absorbing the playbook. He considers his rehab as a day-to-day proposition, and won't reveal any specific timetables to measure his progress. He has not begun running.

At this point, he won't even declare he expects to be ready for the start of training camp. Yet he doesn't hesitate to express the lofty expectations that he has for himself.

"I want to live up to my reputation," said Clowney, who hadn't had a surgical procedure since a high school ankle operation.

"I figure I've got some extra motivation now," Clowney said. "I could've done anything I wanted this next month, if I hadn't gotten hurt. No telling how I would've acted if I had gone home. But this kind of brought me back. They always talk about nothing is set in stone. Well, you really see the light. I just need to get healthy so I can ball out."